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December 26th, 2011

Not that the Knicks were loaded at point guard to start with, but with Iman Shumpert out, they are dangerously thin now at the position. Even so, don’t expect Nate Robinson to make a triumphant return with his former team.

“We’ll look into it,” Mike D’Antoni said.

They’ll look, but they won’t touch the high-maintenance Robinson, who played in New York for four-plus seasons until he was traded to the Celtics at the trading deadline in the 2009-2010 season.

When D’Antoni was initially asked about re-signing Robinson Monday at the team’s practice facility in Greenburgh, he shot a look as if to say, are you kidding ? But his answer was more on the diplomatic side, saying reporters would have to check with interim GM Glen Grunwald.

The NBA has decided to not take any disciplinary action against Kevin Garnett for his scuffle with New York’s Billy Walker at the end of the Celtics’ 106-104 loss to the Knicks Sunday, which means the C’s will have him available for Tuesday’s game in Miami.

Trailing by two points with just a few ticks on the game clock, Garnett missed a jumper in which he was defended by Walker. The two exchanged words and Garnett put his hands around Walker’s neck, but was unable to grip him as Walker was moving back in an effort to avoid the contact.

When asked about the incident after the loss, Garnett scoffed, “Next question.”

Kyrie Irving will start at point guard for the Cavs tonight in the season opener against the Toronto Raptors. Irving came off the bench during the two preseason games, but coach Byron Scott said he wanted Irving with the veteran starters and Ramon Sessions to provide a veteran presence to a young second unit.

“We need somebody with some experience with that ball. That is perfect for Sess,” Scott said. “Sess understood. Obviously Kyrie on the first team is surrounded by veterans, which is going to help him. I really think it’s going to work out for the best.”

Scott still wants Irving to improve defensively and believes surrounding him with good defensive communicators like Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker will help him get there.